Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 3/19/2009
From: Orlando, FL
A video package highlighting Destination X from last Sunday is shown. Suicide is the new TNA X-Division Champion. Matt Morgan prevailed over Abyss in the 10,000 tacks match. Samoa Joe couldn’t control himself and lost to Scott Steiner by disqualification. AJ Styles won the TNA Legends Championship. Mick Foley accidentally hit Sting with a chair shot, but Sting still retained the TNA World Championship over Kurt Angle.
The Main Event Mafia make their way down to to the ring along with security. Scott Steiner is wearing mask covering his face due to what happened with Samoa Joe at the PPV. Kurt Angle has a microphone and talks about Destination X and how everything that he predicted happened. Angle knew that Sting would show his true colors and which side he’s truly on. Angle talks about Foley raising Sting’s hand just seconds after Jarrett screwed him over. Angle thinks it’s the biggest screw job since Montreal. Angle thinks Sting covered it up by having Foley hit him with a chair. Angle is giving Sting ten-seconds to explain himself before the Mafia has to do what they have to do. Sting grabs the microphone and tells Angle this is the last time he will say he’s disloyal. Sting has been loyal to the Mafia since day one, but he has a personal problem with Angle. Sting owes Angle nothing. Sting thought they had finished things at Destination X, but apparently that’s not the case. Sting tells Angle that he’s all in. Nash steps in and asks for the microphone. Nash agrees that Sting owes Angle nothing and turns to Angle while saying that. Nash does believe Sting owes the rest of the Mafia something. Nash notes they’ve been with Sting since the beginning. Nash mentions it has been two PPVs in a row that Foley has raised Sting’s arm, and Sting has something to prove to them. Sting asks what he has to do to prove himself to Nash. Sting asks what he has to do to prove himself. Angle chimes in and wants Sting to be his partner tonight. Angle reveals they’ll be wrestling Jarrett and Foley tonight
Jeff Jarrett storms out to the ring and marches down to the ring to confront the Mafia. Jarrett tells Angle that he’s already told him once, and won’t tell him again. Angle doesn’t have the authority to tell anyone to do anything. Angle is only a wrestler on the TNA roster, and while he’s the best he’s ever seen, he’s simply a wrestler on the TNA roster. Only TNA management can make the matches. Angle laughs at Jarrett and knows that only means Jarrett and Foley. Angle believes Jarrett will not book the match because he wants to protect Sting. Angle doesn’t think Sting has any integrity in his body. Angle says if he’s going to screw someone he’d do it to their face. Angle calls Sting a liar and he’s nothing more or less than that. Sting says he’d love the opportunity to be in the ring with Angel again and with both Jarrett and Foley. Sting notes that Foley is on the inactive list and has wrestled his last match, so this can’t even happen.
Mick Foley makes his way out to join the segment. Foley joins everyone in the ring. Foley says Angle kicked him in the nuts and he apologizes for hitting Sting with a chair shot. Foley asks when did Sting call the shots in TNA. Foley doesn’t recall having ever said he had his last match in TNA. Foley has proven he can watch a match at ringside as good as anyone else. Foley isn’t a guest enforcer and is truly a wrestler deep down inside. Foley says wrestlers wrestle every one in a while. Foley says he’s all in tonight. Jarrett tries to talk some reasoning into Foley and tries to stop the crowd from chanting for Foley. Jarrett thinks Foley needs to rethink this. Jarrett doesn’t think Foley wants this. Angle asks if this is not what Jarrett wants in reality. Jarrett knows there’s a locker room full of wrestlers that would love to kick Angle’s ass tonight. Angle doesn’t want them, but rather wants Jarrett. Angle asks if Jarrett will play the role of an inactive wrestler every time he tries to get Jarrett into the ring. Angle wants Jarrett to man up for once in his life. Jarrett ends up accepting the challenge for tonight. Jarrett promises it ends tonight one way or another. Jarrett and Angle have a stare down to end the segment.
A video package highlighting the Ultimate X match is shown.
MATCH #1: IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (SABIN & SHELLEY) VS. NO LIMIT (NAITO & YUJIRO) — NON-TITLE
NOTE: The Guns won the tag titles from No Limit at the Tokyo Dome.
FINISH: Naito rolls through a top rope hurricanrana by Sabin and picks up the win. After the match, Beer Money nails No Limit with the tag titles.
Bob’s Take: A good, fast pace tag match with all four men getting shine throughout the bout. I was not expecting the Guns to lose here, but the partnership with NJPW should make that less surprising. Anyway, it’s a good match and kind of a sprint of a bout it felt like.
Match Rating: **1/2
Robert Roode grabs a microphone and calls out Team 3D. Team 3D waste little time making their way down to the ring to confront the champs. Roode wants Team 3D to just listen to them. Roode says they respect Team 3D and respect everything they’ve done for tag team wrestling. Roode considers them the best there’s ever been. Roode puts over Team 3D’s accolades as they are currently the IWGP Tag Team Champions, too. Roode brags about being the TNA Tag Team Champions and says they’ve beaten everyone that has come their way. Roode knows people see them as a joke or a flash in the pan. Roode says they are putting the titles on the line against Team 3D at Lockdown inside a steel cage. Roode notes the match would be taking place in Philadelphia. Roode thinks once they beat Team 3D then they’ll get the respect they deserve. Ray says they’re not blowing smoke and wants to do it the right way in Philadelphia. Ray offers to put the IWGP Tag Team Championships on the line, too. Ray notes that Philadelphia is their backyard and it is where they became a legendary tag team. Ray says they are the most violent tag team to ever exist. Ray believes they will win the TNA Tag Team Championships. They standoff holding their respective titles in the air.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley for an interview promoting the main event. Borash teases a major name involved with Lockdown and plugs TNA Mobile. Jeff Jarrett enters the room and he’s mad with Foley asking what he’s thinking. Jarrett blames Foley for backing him into a corner and having to accept the match. Foley doesn’t seem to care too much and tells Jarrett he loves pumpkin pie. Jarrett wants Foley to stop joking around. Foley didn’t get involved with TNA to be at ringside. Foley loves TNA and that’s why he came here. Foley sees matches day in and day out that remind him of his old days. Foley wants a couple of times on the ride and then he’ll be back to being in management. Foley wants to do it for the right reasons and that’s because he loves it. Foley wants Jarret to have fun. Foley says this could be the greatest main event in TNA history. Good business makes everyone happy.
A recap finding out who won a night with ODB at Destination X. ODB ended up picking Cody Deaner.
MATCH #2: ODB & TAYLOR WILDE VS. TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION AWESOME KONG & RAISHA SAEED
NOTE: Cody Deaner is in the crowd watching the match.
FINISH: Wilde pins Kong with a crucifix pin. After the match, Kong attacks and hits the Implant Buster on ODB. Cody Deaner jumps the railing to make the save. Kong pushes ODB to the mat and Deaner appears ready for a fight with Kong. Kong backs off.
Bob’s Take: I feel like ODB is being primed for being the Knockout to dethrone Awesome Kong for the title. She came across as a big deal here during her entrance. The crowd is far more invested in ODB than they are Wilde, but Wilde is a very good wrestler in her own right. Wilde getting the surprise win on Kong was not expected. I really thought ODB would be getting that kind of push. Kong has two challengers potentially and that’s fine by me. I thought this was a solid bout.
Match Rating: **
Backstage, Jeremey Borash sits with Kurt Angle for an interview in the locker room. Borash took some notes from Destination X. Borash wants to share his notes with Angle. Borash mentions Angle knocked out Jarrett and spat in his face despite Jarrett being a referee. Borash notes that Angle hit an Olympic Slam and kicked Foley in the nuts. Borash recalls Angle trying to hit Sting with a chair. Angle would have done it if it wasn’t for Foley. Borash asks that Angle thinks there is still a conspiracy and it has nothing to do with his actions. Angle says there was nothing he could do other than trying to take them all on. Angle says we will find out which side Sting is on tonight in the main event. Angle will make sure Sting knows who he is dealing with.
MATCH #3: SAMOA JOE VS. ABDUL BASHIR
FINISH: Joe is disqualified for striking the official. After the match, Joe drags Bashir backstage with a chokehold.
Bob’s Take: Well, I’m not sure how I feel about this new look Joe. Joe is wearing pants, but it kind of looks like its sweatpants. Joe mauls Bashir and drags Bashir backstage quickly. This is hardly a match and basically just showing that Joe has completely lost his temper and is out to ruin anyone that gets in his way.
Match Rating: NR
Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People. Velvet Sky says that Cute Kip is on probation until he can learn that he’s not above the Beautiful People. Sky says they will not speak of Cute Kip again. Angelina Love says Madison Rayne is being tested by the Beautiful People before becoming a member. Love tells Rayne they put forth years and years of hard work and dedication. Sky tells Rayne they aren’t interested in a win, but rather leaving a mark on the Governor. Sky says the hazing and initiation begins for Rayne. It’s either the Governor or Rayne tonight. Love says this week is the Governor and next week will be the beast. Lauren asks if they are talking about Kong, but they deny that before walking off.
Jim Cornette is in the ring to introduce the new TNA Legends Champion AJ Styles for an interview. Cornette talks about how the title started as a vanity title for Booker T. Cornette notes that Styles is in possession of the title and $200,000 trophy. Styles is welcomed by an AJ chant. Styles says this is a small step for AJ Styles, but a giant leap for TNA and the originals. Styles says the originals had to get into the ring and get the job done by themselves. Styles got a little piece back from what the Mafia has taken. Styles says the title represents hope, faith and respect and not money. Styles promises to give any deserving opponent a chance at the title. Styles is a fighting champion. However, Booker T and Sharmell come out to cut off Styles interview. Booker says Styles is talking a bunch of nonsense and he spent a lot of money on the title. Booker tells Styles nobody is getting a shot at Styles. Booker demands a title shot first and calls Styles a punk ass. Styles has no idea what Booker just said to him. Styles wants to make himself clear and said a deserving wrestler, but Booker is a paper champion who created the title. Styles asks what Booker is going to do and says there’s nothing Booker can do. Sharmell chimes in and says Styles stole the title. Sharmell warns that Booker will get his title back on his own time before departing the ring.
MATCH #4: THE GOVERNOR VS. MADISON RAYNE
FINISH: Governor counters a suplex with an inside cradle for the win. After the match, Governor is attacked by the Beautiful People. Love hits the Lights Out on Governor. Love gets scissors out of a bag and they cut Governor’s hair.
Bob’s Take: There’s really nothing much to this one. I could see there being some kind of hair match between the Governor and one of the Beautiful People. I’m not against something like that.
Match Rating: NR
Backstage, Samoa Joe has Sheik Abdul Bashir hanging upside down. Bashir is apologizing. Joe tells Bashir that nobody wants him here. Joe suggests that Bashir go back where he came from. Joe wants Bashir to tell everyone to not get in his way. Joe forces Bashir to hold a knife in his mouth. Joe hits Bashir several times with a kendo stick several times. Bashir keeps on apologizing.
TNA Roughcut focusing on Team 3D is shown.
MAIN EVENT: TNA WORLD CHAMPION STING & KURT ANGLE VS. JEFF JARRETT & MICK FOLEY
FINISH: Foley whacks Sting with a steel chair and pins Sting to win the match. After the match, Foley has a little bit of a smirk, but Jarrett seems a bit confused and concerned.
Bob’s Take: This feels like a big main event for Impact, and Foley’s first TV match is notable. I was hoping to see Jarrett and Angle fight each other, but they took a more wrestling approach, which felt a little odd to me considering how personal their feud had gotten. Angle whacked Foley with a chair and hit the Olympic Slam on the floor, but Foley remained in the match. Sting gets in Angle’s face to tell him to take the victory and not drag it out, but Angle doesn’t listen to that demand. Sting prevents Jarrett from using a guitar on Angle. There’s a ton of name power here, but I wouldn’t say this was all that good.
Match Rating: *
Sting has remained in the ring and says if Foley wanted back in the game then all he needed to do was ask. Sting says he’s inspired since Foley has hit him with a chair two times. Sting is calling out Foley now. Sting recalls Foley saying that Sting made his career. Sting is now going to be responsible for ending Foley’s career. Sting wants to go back to school with Foley. Sting challenges Foley to a match at Lockdown inside a steel cage. Kurt Angle is seen smiling on the aisle and backing away.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley. Jarrett doesn’t know what is going on. Foley is sitting down and Borash asks what happened to Foley. Foley doesn’t know what happened out there, but he’s proud of his actions. Foley says Sting inspired him. Foley was insulted hearing Sting say that Foley has had enough. Foley will tell Sting when he’s had enough and he hasn’t reached that point yet. Foley asks if it is a good idea to put him inside a cage. Foley says he will tear Sting apart at Lockdown. Have a nice day!
Final Thoughts:
Mick Foley cut some very good promos on this show to promote his match with Sting at Lockdown. I was not expecting Foley to basically talk himself into being a main event draw for TNA in 2009, but here we are. Foley cut a logical promo and there’s a true logical reason for his actions against Sting. There’s heat there, folks. Impact at this point is very, very heavy on promos and the action is taking a massive backseat. It’s everything that the company had proclaimed it would not be. But, they have officially become a true WWE-lite. We’ve reached that era. A productive show for Sting vs. Foley being setup at Lockdown, but aside from that this was a mostly average show.
Thanks for reading.